Garment support



Sept. 19, 1939. J. s. BENNf-:TT

GARMENT SUPPORT Filed March 2, 1938 T. l E N.. N E B. AD H D. E

JOS BY "ATToRNEY Patented Sept. 19, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

My invention relates to belts or the like for supporting wearing apparel, such as trousers, skirts, hosiery, etc., and is concerned more particularly with garment supports adapted to be worn on the inside of the garment to be supported. In many aspects the invention may be said to constitute a continuing development of that type garment support described and illustrated in my (3o-pending application Serial No. 176,431, filed November 6, 1937.

Like the garment support of the previously filed application, the present invention is characterized in that the support is inexpensive to manufacture and can be made in one size or length and cut down to suit the individual physical measurements of the wearer. It not only holds up the garment to be supported, but by its frictional contact with the garment beneath it holds the latter neatly and comfortably in place and at the same time insures adequate ventilation. Due to its inherent elasticity (being preferably made of soft live rubber compounded or pure, and transversely deeply corrugated on its inner surface), it not only accommodates itself to slight changes in girth, but in addition, when stressed and thereafter permitted to spring back to its original size and shape, it effectively puckers and frictionally holds the material of the under garment within the grooves and between the ridges of the transverse corrugations. In these major respects the two developments are generally similar.

As distinct from the ordinary belt or garment support, as well as from the garment support of the aforementioned application, the present invention has to do with a distinctly new and novel method or means of fastening the inside bodyencircling belt or band to the garment to be supported. The use of belt loops, either of conventional form or of that form suggested in said earlier filed application, is completely avoided, Instead, there is provided a retaining strip or band on the inside of the garment to be supported. This strip or band is given a beaded edge and is stitched or otherwise fastened to the garment to partially or completely encircle the waist band (or other body portion) of the wearer. To the beaded ed-ge of the strip a plurality of belt retaining devices are adjustably fastened. These devices are preferably hook-shaped, made of metal, and may be adjusted lengthwise of the strip to engage within any pre-selected groove between adjacent ridges of the transverse corrugations. To remove the belt (or belt sections if made in two pieces), it is only necessary to unhook or unfasten the one or more retaining devices. The advantages of a garment support thus characterized are many. It does not draw the garment t0 be supported inward at the waist line. The points of support being below the belt, this tendency is completely avoided notwithstanding the fact that the belt itself is free to hug the body. No loose bulges occur between points of belt support, and the Waist band remains smooth and unwrinkled even though it be considerably larger than the wearers waist. The metal, retaining devices are freely adjustable to points of belt support best suited to the comfort and individual requirements of the wearer, and when used with a deeply corrugated elastic band as herein contemplated, these devices are held in place by their fitting engagement in the grooves of the corrugated inner belt surface. Moreover, the belt per se is freely removable and its elasticity or elongation, when stretched, is no way impaired or its contact with the under garment at any point obstructed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters denote like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a garment showing a belt or band thereto attached;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the belt showing the manner in which it is free to slide on and off the retaining strip fastened to the garment;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the belt, and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the retaining devices.

Referring first to Fig. l, the garment to be supported (trousers) is designated as I0. On the inside of the waist band I I of the garment the belt or band per se is fitted. Preferably, the belt or band I 2 is made of soft live rubber and on its inner face is transversely deeply corrugated as at I3. At one end the band is provided with a female buckle element I4 and at its opposite end with a male buckle element I5; the two being adapted for interlocking engagement one with the other as desired.

As previously pointed out, the belt I2 is cut to the desired length, and only after cutting are the buckle elements I4 and I5 fastened in place. To admit of this fastening, each said element is provided with swinging bales or loops I6 so shaped or formed as to interfit in adjacent grooves at the ends of the belt. To remove or detach the buckle elements, it is only necessary that they be backed up suflciently to release the bales I6, after which the buckle elements may be slipped off and completely detached.

The means for holding the belt I2 to the garment I0 consists of a retaining band or strip Il. This strip or band (preferably inelastic fabric) is stitched as at I8 on the inside of the garment I0 at the waist band, but suiciently below the upper edge of the garment to insure that the belt l2, when fastened to and above the strip will not be exposed to view. If the length of the retaining strip I1 is such as to extend substantially throughout the full circumference of the waist band, the belt to be used is preferably formed in one piece. If, however, the retaining strip is divided, i. e., interrupted at the back of the garment, then instead of a one-piece belt, a similarly divided or two-piece belt may be used. An advantage resulting from the latter arrangement is that alterations can be made at the back seam of the garment without disturbing the permanently stitched in strip. Suitable stops (not shown) however, are required to be provided at the front ends of the strips to prevent the belt sections from sliding off if the two-piece belt idea is adopted.

The strip stitching I8, it will be noted, lies closely adjacent to the bottom edge of the strip so that the upper strip edge may be left free or loose. Along this free upper edge of the strip Il a suitable beading I9 is formed. The nature or character of beading is immaterial. It may be formed as shown similar to the edging used in the wellknown slide fastener, or it may be formed in any of a variety of different ways such, for instance, as by means of wire coils flattened and fastened to the edge of the strip. Suffice it to state that in any event the beading, like the strip, should be iiexible though inelastic.

Over the beading I9 a plurality of retaining devices 20 are fitted. These retaining devices may partake of any of a variety of shapes, although metal loops or retaining devices of the shape shown in Fig. 1 are recommended. The retaining devices are freely slidable along the beading and may be adjusted to any position desired. As shown in Fig. 4, each said device comprises a hook-shaped body portion 2| and an. integrally formed guiding sleeve portion 22 through which the beading I9 of the retaining strip I 'I is passed. When fitted to the belt I2 the hook-shaped portion holds the belt to the garment IIJ and is in turn held against movement relatively to the belt by its fitting engagement in one of the grooves between the ridges of the transverse corrugations I3. To insure ease of sliding movement along the retaining strip, the sleeve portion of each retaining device is end-flared or bell-shaped as indicated at 23.

A garment support such as herein described is especially appealing where the belt or band I2 is possessed of a high coefficient of friction. It is simple, practical and inexpensive. It is easy to put on and remove. Once cut to the proper length, a slight stretch to interlock the buckle elements insures, when released, a perfect waistine fit conducive to comfort and entirely free from waist band puckering or wrinkling. Not only is the garment to be supported effectively supported, but the garment beneath held comfortably, firmly and neatly in place regardless of body movements.

While I have described my invention in detail in its present preferred embodiment, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, after understanding my invention, that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. I aim in the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a garment, and a support therefor comprising an inelastic strip fastened to and on the inside of the garment, a transversely corrugated band or belt, and retaining devices fastened to and slidable along the strip to hold the belt to the garment, said retaining devices being adapted to energize each within one of the transverse corrugations.

2. In combination, a garment, and a support therefor comprising a strip having a beaded edge, the strip being fastened to and on the inside of the garment, an inside belt or band, and retaining devices slidably adjustable along the beaded edge of the strip and engaging with the belt to hold the latter to the garment.

3. In combination, a garment, and a support therefor comprising an inelastic strip fastened to and on the inside of the garment,v an inside elastic band having transversecorrugations, and retaining devices fastened to and adjustable lengthwise the strip, each said retaining device having a hook-shaped portion adapted to engage in one or another of the transverse corrugations to hold the belt to the garment.

4. The combination with a garment, of a support therefor comprising a strip fastened to and on the inside of the garment, a belt likewise adapted to be worn on the inside of the garment, and retaining devices fastened to and freely slidable along the strip to hold the belt in place beneath the garment with no portion thereof exposed to View.

5. The combination with a garment, of a support therefor comprising a strip having a beaded edge, said strip being fastened to and on the inside of the garment well below its upper edge, a belt likewise adapted to be worn on the inside of the garment, and retaining devices fastened to and freely slidable along the beaded edge of the strip, said retaining devices being adapted to hold the belt in place beneath the garment with no portion of either the retaining devices or of the belt exposed to view.

6. The combination with a garment, of a support therefor comprising an inelastic strip fastened to and on the inside of the garment, an elastic belt likewise adapted to be worn on the inside of the garment, and retaining devices fastened to and freely slidable along the strip to hold the belt in place beneath the garment with no portion thereof exposed to View.

7. The combination with a garment, of a support therefor comprising a strip fastened along its lower edge to and on the inside of the garment, a belt likewise adapted to be wornV on the inside of the garment, and retaining devices fastened to and freely slidable along the'upper edge only of the strip to hold the belt in place beneath the garment with no portion thereof exposed to view.

8. The combination with a garment, of a support therefor comprising a strip fastened to and on the inside of the garment, a belt likewise adapted to be worn on the inside of the garment, and hook-shaped retaining devices fastened to and freely slidable along the stripv and beneath the hooked portions of which the belt is fitted, said retaining devices being adapted to hold the belt in place beneath the garment with no portion thereof exposed to view.

JOSEPH S. BENNETT. 

